President Lee Jae Myung said he asked Pope Leo XIV to consider visiting North Korea and the Demilitarized Zone.
The request signals a diplomatic effort to use religious leadership to break the long-standing deadlock on the Korean Peninsula. By involving the Vatican, Seoul aims to create a neutral channel for dialogue and peace between the two nations.
Lee said the statement during a media briefing on Friday following a 10-day tour of four European nations [1]. The president linked the potential visit to the preparations for World Youth Day 2027 [1].
"I have asked Pope Leo XIV to consider visiting North Korea and the DMZ as part of our preparations for World Youth Day 2027," Lee said [1].
Beyond the security implications of a visit to the DMZ, Lee extended a formal invitation for the pontiff to visit the South Korean capital. The president said the country would be honored to welcome the pope in Seoul next year for the global youth event [2].
World Youth Day 2027 [1] serves as the primary catalyst for the invitation. The event draws millions of young people from around the world, and a papal presence would elevate the international profile of the host city.
Lee said the goal is to promote South Korea's hosting of the event while simultaneously fostering peace on the peninsula [1]. The proposal to include North Korea and the DMZ in the itinerary suggests a desire to expand the event's message of unity beyond South Korean borders.
“"I have asked Pope Leo XIV to consider visiting North Korea and the DMZ"”
The invitation leverages the moral authority of the papacy to initiate a diplomatic opening in North Korea, where traditional political channels are often frozen. By tying the request to World Youth Day 2027, South Korea is attempting to merge a high-profile cultural and religious celebration with a strategic peace initiative, potentially using the Vatican as a mediator to reduce tensions at the DMZ.
